NC State baseball weekend recap: Pack gets needed sweep
Some late-game heroics for NC State baseball helped the Wolfpack prevail in a three-game sweep over visiting Florida State, the first time in program history that the Pack swept the Noles. Games two and three would be one-run, late-inning wins for NC State.
After demolishing FSU 14-3 in game one, the Pack rallied from down 3-1 on Saturday to tie the score on a 2-run homer from senior centerfielder Parker Nolan in the bottom of the sixth. Junior third baseman LuJames Groover III then provided the game-winner with a solo blast to lead off the eighth in what was a 4-3 NC State win.
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A one-out solo homer in the bottom of the eighth from NC State heralded freshman first baseman Eli Serrano III tied game three at 3-3. FSU scored in the top of the 10th to take a 4-3 lead, but the Noles failed to record a second out in the bottom half.
After junior NC State shortstop Kalae Harrison grounded out to lead off the frame, the next four batters reached, the last of which was a bases loaded walk drawn by senior right fielder Trevor Candelaria to tie the game at 4-4. Redshirt junior pinch hitter Dominic Pilolli then delivered with a long fly ball over the head of shallow-playing Florida State centerfielder DeAmez Ross to win the game.
At The Plate For NC State Baseball
Groover was the story of the weekend. He went 6 for 11 at the plate with a pair of homers and a double. He also walked three times, scored six runs and drove in a pair. Groover was named Perfect Game’s College Player of the Week and the ACC Player of the Week.
Also having a noteworthy weekend was sophomore left fielder/designated hitter Will Marcy, who has ascended to leadoff hitter role. Marcy went 6 for 13 in the series with a double and also drew a walk. He scored two runs and drove in a pair.
On The Mound
NC State baseball has seen the bullpen struggle this year, but over the weekend the Pack relievers allowed just one earned run over 8.2 innings of work.
Redshirt junior Logan Whitaker also delivered one of his more effective starts of the season, overcoming a 3-run second inning on Saturday to go eight innings. He did not allow a run after the second and surrendered just 4 hits without a walk and striking out eight FSU batters.
ACC Standings And Weekend Schedule
Atlantic Division
| Team | Overall Record | Conference Record |
| Wake Forest | 31-5 | 14-3 |
| Louisville | 26-9 | 8-7 |
| Boston College | 24-11 | 9-9 |
| NC State | 24-11 | 8-9 |
| Notre Dame | 18-15 | 8-10 |
| Clemson | 22-15 | 6-9 |
| Florida State | 13-22 | 4-14 |
Coastal Division
| Team | Overall Record | Conference Record |
| Virginia | 31-6 | 12-6 |
| North Carolina | 24-12 | 9-7 |
| Miami | 22-13 | 10-8 |
| Duke | 23-12 | 9-8 |
| Virginia Tech | 21-12 | 8-9 |
| Pittsburgh | 16-18 | 7-9 |
| Georgia Tech | 20-16 | 7-11 |
Weekend Series Results:
NC State 3, Florida State 0
Miami 2, North Carolina 1
Duke 2, Boston College 1
Pittsburgh 2, Virginia 1
Wake Forest 2, Louisville 1
Virginia Tech 3, Georgia Tech 0
Clemson 2, Notre Dame 1
NC State Baseball In The Polls
USA Today Sports baseball coaches: Receiving votes (previously unranked)
NCBWA: Receiving votes (previously unranked)
Collegiate Baseball: Unranked (previously unranked)
Perfect Game: Unranked (previously unranked)
D1Baseball.com: Unranked (previously unranked)
Baseball America: Unranked (previously unranked)
Midweek Action Ahead For NC State Baseball
NC State baseball will get a chance to play in a professional park when traveling to face Davidson in Charlotte’s Truist Field. This is the final non-conference road trip of the regular season.
Fifth-year senior righty Baker Nelson will get the start.
Davidson is 21-13 overall on the season but is playing well in the Atlantic 10 with a 7-2 mark in conference action. That is second place in the league standings. The Wildcats were the preseason pick to win the A-10.
Davidson started the season slow, going 8-10 before flipping the switch and being 13-3 in the past 16 games. One of those recent losses, however, was being trounced 19-0 at Duke in a midweek contest last Tuesday.
